Learn about how different cultures celebrate the holiday-extract from the article.
By Lola Bosa
Christmas is a worldwide holiday, yet it is celebrated differently from place to place—sometimes even on different days. In the United States, we’ve embraced traditions like Santa Claus, the tree, and gift exchanges, but there are so many other wonderful customs around the globe to learn about and appreciate.
At its essence, Christmas, wherever it is celebrated, is a time to be with loved ones and bask in the warm feelings of generosity and kindness. Whether you embrace the religious context at the holiday’s core or have adopted your own traditions, there is no doubt that people of various backgrounds and experiences become united under the shared joy of the season.
Austria
Children in Austria are in for a much worse fate than coal if they’ve been naughty this year. Although in the United States, holiday fiend Krampus—depicted as half-goat, half-man, and anti-Santa—is a figment of pop culture, in Austria, Krampus is a legend that has been haunting the young for hundreds of years. Born of Pagan origins and from the country’s Alpine region, the demonic creature has become a Christmas icon alongside the more welcoming St. Nicholas.
Brazil
In Brazil, many families gather for a late dinner on Christmas Eve before heading to a Midnight Mass service or Missa de Galo (mass of the Rooster), which finishes around 1am. After the service, there are often large fireworks displays, and in cities or larger towns, electric lights will be configured in the shape of a Christmas Tree.
Catalonia
In the Catalonian region of Spain, many display a nativity scene in their homes—the representation of the birth of Christ—but with one key addition: a person wearing a red barretina hat, called el caganer, or “the pooper.” According to Time, the caganer has existed since the Baroque period, in the late 17th to early 18th centuries, but many are unclear why this tradition was created. Nevertheless, poop also pops up in another tradition, called the Caga Tió, or Tió de Nadal, which is essentially a log that is fed scraps of food during the Holidays, and then, on Christmas, is battered with a stick and sung to by children for presents.
China
Only a small percentage of the population in China is Christian, so much of the festivities are limited to major cities, where they decorate with Christmas trees, lights, and more. In China, Santa is called ‘Shengdan Laoren,’ which means ‘Old Christmas Man.’ According to the Confucius Institute of Scotland, a tradition becoming popular is the giving of apples on Christmas Eve as a symbol of peace and friendship.
Denmark
In mid-December, when Christmas is celebrated, Denmark is at the depths of winter, with sunlight lasting only about seven hours a day. As such, the holiday is celebrated with many colorful lights, strung around homes and shopping centers alike. Danish Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve with a large feast, followed by the whole family joining hands and literally singing and dancing around the tree.
Estonia
Estonia during Christmas feeds all our winter wonderland dreams, with sprawling markets and villages. The capital, Tallinn, is considered by many to be the birthplace of the public Christmas tree tradition, dating back to 1411, when a fir tree was put up by the guild of the Brotherhood of Black Heads.
France
In France, Yule logs made of cherry wood are often burnt in homes. Tradition holds that the log was brought inside on Christmas Eve and covered with red wine before burning. Although not during Christmas, many also prepare and share a galette des rois on January 6th for Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem. In the French cake, a small charm is hidden inside, and whoever finds it is crowned king or queen for the day.
Greece
It wasn’t until the 19th century that decorating Christmas trees was adopted in Greece. Before that, and even today, the traditional holiday symbol is a boat called karavakia (meaning “little ship” or “small boat”), which, according to the Mariners’ Museum and Park, is decorated to celebrate the country’s relationship with the sea. Often, sailors would be gone for long periods of time, whether fishing or trading, and those at home would welcome them back with small wooden boats.
Guatemala
The Christmas season in Guatemala is very special and busy—with the Quema del Diablo (burning of the devil) on December 7th, then the Posadas Navideñas (Christmas posadas), and then the Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) in January. But the festivities open at exactly 6pm each year with the traditional burning of the devil and bonfires built outside homes to cleanse away any evil.
Haiti
Many Christmas traditions in Haiti take place on December 24th, when families attend midnight Mass and carolers sing hymns through the neighborhoods. After Mass, everyone returns home for Revellion, a special meal that in French means “to wake up.” Indeed, this meal often lasts until dawn, with a spread of rice and beans, tassot cabrit (fried goat meat), accra, pineapple upside-down cake, and much more. During this time, children will also set out their shoes filled with straw, which Tonton Nwèl (Santa Claus) will replace with presents.